VERB TYPES

ARGUMENT STRUCTURE
THETA-ROLES

LECTURE #4
UNIT 3
PART A

VERB TYPES
 Lexical verbs:
According to the number and kind of participants
involved in the event or state, verbs are divided into:
TRANSITIVE: SELECT ONE OR TWO
COMPLEMENTS IN THE ACCUSATIVE CASE (D.O.
or I.O.)

INTRANSITIVE: CANNOT SELECT COMPLEMENTS

IN THE ACCUSATIVE CASE
 Transitive verbs
1) Monotransitive: select SUBJECT + ONE COMPLEMENT (TWO-
PLACE PREDICATES)
Sometimes parents (S) don’t understand their children’s tastes
in clothes (D.O).

2) Ditransitive: Select SUBJECT+ TWO COMPLEMENTS (THREE-

PLACE PREDICATES)
My boss (S) told me (I.O.) that I was not doing my job properly
(D.O.)

*Note: complement= object

 Monotransitive verbs
According to the type of complement they select,
monotransitive verbs are divided into:
1) PLAIN MONOTRANSITIVE: THEY SELECT DP OR CP SUBJECT
AND/OR COMPLEMENT:
• My boss (DP subject) insulted me (D complement).
• My boss (DP subject) said that she didn’t like my handwriting.
(CP complement).
• What my boss said (CP subject) upset me (D complement).

SOME TYPICAL PLAIN MONOTRANSITIVE VERBS ARE:

LIKE-LOVE- KNOW- MAKE- SAY- MEET- BUY- UNDERSTAND-
SUGGEST- SAVE- HIT- KILL- LEARN
 Monotransitive verbs
2) CONTROL VERBS: THEY SELECT A NON- FINITE (TP)
COMPLEMENT (INIFINITIVE or GERUND) with a PRO SUBJECT.
The reference of PRO IS CONTROLLED BY THE SUBJECT OF THE
FINITE CLAUSE.
• I(i) hope [PRO(i) to pass the test].
• My best friend(i) chose [PRO(i) to study the same as me].
• My mother(i) enjoys [PRO(i) cooking] only at weekends.

SOME TYPICAL CONTROL VERBS ARE:

WANT- EXPECT- NEED- LIKE- LOVE- HATE- TRY- REFUSE- DENY (+ING)

* Many control verbs are also plain monotransitive (want, try, need,
like, love, hate, choose).
 Monotransitive verbs
3) ECM VERBS: THEY SELECT A NON- FINITE (TP) COMPLEMENT
(INIFINITIVE or GERUND) with AN ECM SUBJECT.
ECM: EXCEPTIONAL CASE MARKING: THE NAME GIVEN TO THE CASE
ASSIGNED TO SUBJECTS OF NON-FINITE VERBS IN ENGLISH, AS THEY
INFLECT FOR OBJECTIVE CASE INSTEAD OF NOMINATIVE CASE, AS
SUBJECTS OF FINITE VERBS DO.
a. I expect (that my parents will arrive soon).
a'. I expect (that they’ll arrive soon).
b. I expect [my parents to arrive soon].
b'. I expect [them to arrive soon]. ECM SUBJECT: THEM

OTHER ECM VERBS INCLUDE:

WANT- NEED- LIKE/WOULD LIKE- MAKE- LET-
 Ditransitive verbs
• According to the type of INTERNAL ARGUMENTS THEY SELECT,
DITRANSITIVE VERBS CAN BE:
1) DOUBLE OBJECT: THEIR INTERNAL ARGUMENTS ARE NOMINAL OR
CLAUSAL, AND CAN NORMALLY SHIFT THEIR ORDER.
a. I gave her (I.O.) my regards (D.O.).
a’. I gave my regards (D.O.) to her (I.O.).
b. He told what he thought (D.O.) to whoever listened to him (I.O.).
b’. He told whoever listened to him (I.O.) what he thought (D.O.).

c. My sister taught me (I.O.) how to parallel park (D.O.).

c‘. ? My sister taught how to parallel park (D.O.) to me (I.O.).
d. You can’t teach an old dog new tricks.
d’. ? You can’t teach new tricks to an old dog.

OTHER DOUBLE OBJECT VERBS INCLUDE: ASK- SEND- REMIND

 Ditransitive verbs
2) OBJECT CONTROL: THEIR DIRECT OBJECT IS A NON-FINITE TP WITH A
PRO SUBJECT WHOSE REFERENCE IS CONTROLLED BY THE I.O.

a. My boss (S) ordered me(i) [PRO (i) to put the files in alphabetical
order.

b. She urged us(i) [PRO(i) to finish the project by Friday].

c. She kindly asked her P.A.(i) [PRO(i) to answer her e-mail].

d. She begged the sales staff(i) [PRO(i) not to quit].

OTHER OBJECT CONTROL VERBS INCLUDE: TELL- REMIND- ADVISE-

ENCOURAGE-

* Many object control verbs are also double object.

 Ditransitive verbs
3) DITRANSITVE LOCATIVE: They select two internal arguments, one of
which is a LOCATIVE COMPLEMENT.

a. (YOU) Don’t put words (D.O.) in my mouth (LOC COMPL).

b. She sent a letter (D.O.) to Paris (LOC COMPL).

Compare:
c. She sent a letter (D.O.) to me(I.O.)./She sent me(I.O.) a letter (D.O.)
DOUBLE OBJECT VERB
a’. She sent a letter (D.O.) to Paris (LOC COMPL).
a’’. * She sent Paris a letter.

OTHER DIT. LOCATIVE VERBS INCLUDE: KEEP- PLACE-SPEND (time or money

are abstract locative complements) - INVEST- SAVE
 Intransitive verbs
They differ greatly in the kind and behaviour of their participants.
They divide into:
1. UNERGATIVE: INITIALLY, THEY SELECT ONLY ONE PARTICIPANT: A
SUBJECT CAPABLE OF VOLITION (AGENT) OR FORCE (NON- VOLITIONAL
AGENT).
a. The sun’s shining. (force)
b. The whole class laughed at my joke. (agent)

How can I recognise an UNERGATIVE verb?

• They encode ACTIVITIES, never states.
• They are related to (‘manners of’: movement (run), sound emission (cry), light
emission (glow), admission (smoke, eat)
• They are atelic (i.e. activities do not end in a result)
• They can become telic (they can reach an end/result) expressed as a non-required
complement or adjunt:
She´s writing. / She wrote three letters this morning.
• They may admit a direction through a prepositional adjunct: Don’t look at me.
 Intransitive verbs
2) UNACCUSATIVE: they don´t select an AGENT(i.e. there is no volitional entity
in their configuration). Their PARTICIPANT/S (a theme and sometimes a
location) may or may not occupy the grammatical position of SUBJECT.
When the unaccusatIve verb has BOTH theme AND location, it is called
INHERENT UNACCUSATIVE:

a. The balloon (theme) went up in the air (location).

a’. Up in the air (location) went the balloon (theme) .

b. She (theme) arrived (home) (location) late.

b’ There (expletive) arrived a letter (theme) (here) (location) for you
this morning.

INHERENT UNACCUSATIVE VERBS DENOTE A SPATIAL CONFIGURATION: THEY

EXPRESS THE MOVEMENT OR POSITON OF SOMETHING SOMEWHERE
SIT- STAND- (DIS)APPEAR- ARRIVE- COME-GO- FALL
 Intransitive verbs
When the unaccusative verb has ONLY theme, it is called ERGATIVE:
a. The roses in my garden bloomed /wilted/died /dried.
b. There died several people in a train crash.

ERGATIVE VERBS HAVE THE LOCATION IMPLICIT IN THEIR MEANING,

FOR THAT REASON IT NEVER SURFACES AS A PARTICIPANT IN THE
EVENT.
DIE: GO FROM ONE STATE (ALIVE) TO ANOTHER (DEAD)

SOME ERGATIVE VERBS CAN ALTERNATE BETWEEN INTRANSITIVE

AND TRANSITIVE: OPEN, CLOSE, BREAK
a. The roses DRIED. cf. The roses DIED.
a’. The sun DRIED the roses. cf. * The sun DIED the roses.
b. The window broke.
b’. John broke the window.
 Intransitive verbs
ERGATIVE VERBS WHICH ALTERNATE (OPEN,CLOSE, BREAK, DRY, SOAK,
COOK, FREEZE, MELT) ARE CALLED
ALTERNANT ERGATIVE

ERGATIVE VERBS WHICH DO NOT ALTERNATE (DIE, BLOOM, WILT,

WITHER, ) ARE CALLED

INHERENT ERGATIVE
 Lexical Verbs

INTRANSITIVE TRANSITIVE

UNERGATIVE UNACCUSATIVE MONOTRANSITIVE DITRANSITIVE

(1-PLACE Pr) (2-PLACE Pr) (2-PLACE Pr) (3-PLACE Pr)

INHERENT ERGATIVE PLAIN CONTROL ECM DOUBLE OBJ LOCATIVE

UNACCUSATIVE OBJ CONTROL

INHERENT ALTERNANT
ERGATIVE ERGATIVE
PART B

ARGUMENT STRUCTURE
&
THETA-ROLES
 ARGUMENT STRUCTURE

Predicates denote states, activities or events in

which one or more animate/inanimate entities
participate.
In logical terms, a ‘predicate’ predicates something
about an entity, e.g.:
arrive – run – send – like – happy – tall – in –out

Arguments are the actors or participants taking

part in the activity, state, or event denoted by a
predicate.
the students – at school – Peter – a letter – the tree

Thematic Roles are the roles played by each of the

participants in an activity, state, or event, e.g.:
agent, theme, patient, experiencer, percept,
goal, source, location, recipient, instrument.
Predicates can be PREPOSITIONAL, VERBAL or ADJECTIVAL:
The boss was in a good mood that morning.
theme location adjunct
The driver smiled [when he realised that his lover was at the
party ].
agent experiencer percept
P: AT= “his lover” = theme | “the party” = location
It is absurd {PRO to expect [that those naughty children will
behave properly]}
expletive infinitival phrase (notional subject) theme
P: “expect”: A1: null subject = experiencer
A2: clause: “that those naughty children….” = percept
P: “behave”: A1: “those naughty children” = agent
“properly” (adjunct of manner)
 Theta Roles
ROLE GLOSS EXAMPLE
THEME What is located, changes location or is Mary has arrived.
created.
AGENT    

FORCE    

EXPERIENCER

LOCATION    

RECIPIENT    

SOURCE/GOAL    

PERCEPT    

INSTRUMENT    

PATIENT
 Glosses Examples
Entity experiencing some psychological state. That knife won’t cut the meat.
Initiator, doer of an action incapable of volition. He returned from Paris
Entity representing the origin / destination of some other entity. I ‘ve seen a ghost
The object with which an action is performed I like syntax.
(Intended) destination Debbie kil ed Harry.
Undergoer of an action. She put the book on the table.
Place in which something is situated or happens Debbie kil ed Harry.
Entity instigating some action (capable of volition) She gave me a book.
Entity which is perceived The wind closed the window.
 Theta Roles
ROLE GLOSS EXAMPLE
THEME Entity undergoing the effect of some Mary has arrived.
action
AGENT Entity instigating some action (capable of  Debbie killed Harry.
volition)
FORCE  Initiator, doer of an action (incapable of  The wind closed the window.
volition)
EXPERIENCER Entity experiencing some psychological I like syntax.
state.
LOCATION  Place in which something is situated or She put the book on the table.
happens.  
RECIPIENT  (Intended) destination.  She gave me a book.
(BENEFACTIVE)
SOURCE/GOAL  Entity representing the origin/destination  He returned from Paris.
of some other entity.
PERCEPT  Entity which is perceived. I`ve seen a ghost. 

INSTRUMENT  The object with which an action is That knife won’t cut the meat. 
performed.
PATIENT Undergoer of an action Debbie killed Harry.
 Thematic Relations
Jackendoff 1972
• Agent: initiatior, doer of an action, capable of volition
• Force: initiatior, doer of an action, incapable of volition
• Patient: affected argument, undergoer of an action
• Theme: what is located, changes location, or is created
• Location: spatial or figurative entity at which another entity
is located/placed.
• Goal/Source: entities toward or from which (spatial or
figurative) change of location takes place.
• Recipient/Benefactive: (intended) destination
• Experiencer: the individual who feels/perceives the event.
• Percept: entity experienced or perceived
• Instrument: the object with which an action is performed
 TH E MATI C ROLES
The minimally required (explicit) participants in
an unaccusative predicate have a theme and a
location Ө-roles:
John hasn’t come to school/His letter has arrived (e)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The minimally required (explicit) participant in

an unergative predicate has an agent Ө-role
Lynn can dance / Leo swims very well
The sun is shining / They sang all night
Describe the argument structure of each predicate and label the θ-roles.

• The offended young lady slapped the ill-mannered man

  

• Without wanting to, Judith hit Frank with the ball.

    

• Edward didn’t lend Leonard the money for Charles’ bail.

   

• This key will open that door.

  
Describe the argument structure of each predicate and label the θ-roles.
• The offended young lady slapped the ill-mannered man
  
agent predicate patient
(DP) (DP)
• [Without wanting to], Judith hit Frank with the ball.
    
adjunct agent predicate patient adjunct
(DP) (DP) (PP)
• Edward didn’t lend Leonard the money for Charles’ bail.
   
agent predicate recipient theme
(DP) (DP) (DP)
• This key will open that door.
  
instrument predicate theme
(DP) (DP)
Describe the argument structure of each predicate and label the θ-roles.

• The unemployment rate rose to 15% [last month].

   

• The hunchback frightened the village people [yesterday].

   

• Tim [always] hated the smell of hospitals.

   
Describe the argument structure of each predicate and label the θ-roles.

• The unemployment rate rose to 15% [last month].

    
theme predicate location adjunct
(DP) (PP) (DP)

• The hunchback frightened the village people [yesterday].

   
agent predicate patient adjunct
percept experiencer
(DP) (DP) (Adv)

• Tim [always] hated the smell of hospitals.

   
experiencer adjunct predicate theme
(DP) (Adv) (DP)
HOMEWORK:
Provide the argument structure and the -
grid of each of the predicates in the
following sentence:
It was pointless to expect the woman
we saw at the pub to do us such a favour.
References
• “VERBS” (Apunte de Cátedra)
• “THETA THEORY” (Apunte de Cátedra)

• RADFORD, A. MINIMALIST SYNTAX (2004). Ch 7

(sections 7.4 y 7.5) “Argument Structure” and
“Thematic Roles”.
• COWPER, E. A Concise Introduction to Syntactic
Theory. Ch 3 (Thematic Relations and θ-Roles).